Home at Last! Introducing the new Google Penguin 4.0

Home at Last! Introducing the new Google Penguin 4.0

After considerable months of speculation and incessant waiting, Google finally announced the entry of Penguin 4.0 Algorithm Update on 23rd September 2016. According to Google’s post, the new update will roll out in all available languages. With the expected changes, everyone is already asking the million-dollar question; what are the likely impacts of this latest update? Previous Google Algorithm changes have had varied impacts on different companies. While the latest update of Penguin, Penguin 3.0, might have had closer to 1% of UK or US searches, the recent changes are anticipated to have more significant impacts. Following the past release of Penguin updates, affected sites were notably missing from search results. Before delving deeper into the expected changes, you might want to refresh your memory on what the Penguin algorithm is all about.

What’s Penguin About?

In one of his recent posts about the delayed penguin update, Adam Stetzer outlines that Google first rolled out Penguin Algorithm in April 2012. The main aim was to deal with site spamming; especially those using unauthentic links to bypass search engines. It was Google’s bid to hunt down all types of inorganic links, including those purchased and used inappropriately for the purpose of boosting search rankings.

Prior to this update, one could have poor links in between their sites and have minimal problems rectifying the situation when identified by search engines. This encouraged black hat SEO techniques where others would gain unfavorable advantages over their counterparts. With the introduction of Penguin Algorithm, more changes were evident. In his post, Chuck Price details that inappropriate links became more dangerous.

For one to recover from a bad link fallout, it is necessary to perform link audit. This includes removing the spam-associated link before performing a Penguin refresh. All these had to be performed before one could be able to resurface fully in the search engines. The entire procedure doesn’t take seconds to get through. The expected time strains are expected to discourage future participants from engaging in such unlawful gain of site traffic. Amazingly, the recent update has more clarifications on this impact.

More in store

With so many speculations already going around, one might be confused about what to expect regarding the most recent Google Algorithm update, Penguin 4.0. What will it affect and what will remain unchanged? It is the ideal time to find that out.

Bye Periodic refreshing

In the previous Google Algorithm updates, the sites affected by Penguin updates were only refreshed periodically in line with the new update. From what Google had in its earlier post, it was in order for new updates to be reflected immediately on the affected sites provided the webmaster of the sites improved the standard of their sites to commendable levels. This, however, was not applicable to all Algorithm updates, Penguin being one of them. These exceptions required refreshing for them to be reflected.

With the recent update, Penguin data is anticipated to be reflected in real time. What this means is that changes will be effected as soon as re-indexing and re-crawling of the associated pages is done. As such, devaluing of unnatural links and demotions of associated pages will now happen faster as compared to the past. This capitalizes more on efficiency and cultivates more dependability. However, Google noted with greater concern that it was not going to comment on further refreshes.

Fairer than ever before

Other sources also indicate that the new Penguin update will devalue spam links with major focus on spam signals. Instead of affecting search engine rankings of the entire site, the latest update will focus on individual pages. What this means is that future penalties will be meted on particular pages as opposed to previous instances where entire domains were affected. Compared to the earlier penalties, this is considered fairer.

Great News for Digital Marketers

With real time update of Penguin 4.0, many companies using white hat SEO technique are bound to benefit. The digital marketing community will now realize faster updates and reduction in the prevalence of spammy tactics that have been in use for long. It will be easier for the search algorithms to catch inorganic link profiles and place them in their rightful positions. Subsequently, this is expected to crack a whip on sites thriving on black hat SEO techniques.

No more Penguin Update

Google’s recent post further revealed that the recent update, Penguin 4.0, will be the last in history since no more updates on the same is expected in future. What this hints is the perfection associated with the recent update. As such, it wouldn’t require any further modification. Ideally, what remains is waiting and observing as the new changes take effect in the market and as usual, there will be winners and losers!